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The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the LSB series A, Gospel, Matthew 5:1-12 for the Epiphany 4, series A, January 30, 2011. It is from Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI, Page 611. Jesus' disciples, moved by the Holy Spirit, came up to Jesus on the mountain. Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin. Pastor Doug May
The entire Holy Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—directs all people to Christ, as to the Book of Life. For this has been decided by the Father from eternity: whom He would save He would save through Christ. Christ Himself says, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And again, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9). Christ, as God's only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father [John 1:18], has announced the Father's will to us. He says, "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life" (John 6:40). And again, "God so loved the world‹, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)›. The Father wants all people to hear this proclamation and desires that they come to Christ. Christ does not drive these people from Him, as it is written, "whoever comes to Me I will never cast out" (John 6:37). In order that we may come to Christ, the Holy Spirit works true faith through the hearing of the Word. The apostle testifies about this when he says, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17), that is, when it is preached in its truth and purity. (paragraphs 66-69)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
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